McCartney and Mills split

Paul McCartney and his second wife, Heather Mills McCartney, are separating after close to four years of marriage. They insist the split is amicable and blame “media intrusion” for their separation.

“Having tried exceptionally hard to make our relationship work given the daily pressures surrounding us, it is with sadness that we have decided to go our separate ways,” the couple said in a statement. “Our parting is amicable and both of us still care about each other very much.”

The couple married in June of 2002, four years after Paul’s first wife, Linda, died of breast cancer. McCartney, 63, and Mills, 38, had a daughter, Beatrice, in October 2003.

The statement went on to say that, “Separation for any couple is difficult enough, but to have to go through this so publicly, especially with a small daughter, is immensely stressful. We hope, for the sake of our baby daughter, that we will be given some space and time to get through this difficult period.”

After more media speculation that Mills married Paul for his money, the former Beatle posted a message on his web site that said, “It’s been suggested that she married me for the money and there is not an ounce of truth in this. She is a very generous person who spends most of her time trying to help others in greater need than herself. All the work she does is unpaid, so these stories are ridiculous and completely unfounded. I’m very sad to see that some insensitive people would choose a moment like this to spread these vicious rumors.”